Clarks Pond has been part of Sutton since the early 1900's. Originally called Glen Lake, the pond was gifted to the City in the mid 1940's. It has become a neighborhood park, and provides opportunities for families to picnic, fish, walk, and relax around a maintained .6 acre pond. Over the years silt and dirt have drained into Clarks Pond, causing the pond to shallow in turn killing the aquatic habitats of the fish. The Clarks Pond Restoration Project started in the later part of 2000, when the Sutton City Council was approached by various members of the public. Citizens complained of lack of aquatic habitat for the fish, and the lack of flood control downstream from the pond. Staff from the City of Sutton approached the Clean Lakes Restoration (CLEAR) Team for funding to help revitalize the area. The Clear Team (made up of representatives from Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Nebraska Game and Parks, and University of Nebraska Lincoln) gave preliminary approval and suggestions for the project. With the aid of Olsson Associates the restoration project came to life. Engineering for the project occurred throughout 2001, and the final application for funding from the Clear Team was approved during the summer. The City of Sutton and Olsson Associates approached the Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District for funding assistance. The upper Big Blue agreed to help with the project bringing the number of entities involved to five. Bidding on the project commenced in Early 2002, and the City of Sutton awarded the Bid to VanKirk Brothers Contracting from Sutton Nebraska. The plans for the project include expanding the surface area of the pond to 1 acre, digging the pond to 12 ft in depth, providing for vinyl sheet piling around the pond to help prevent erosion. A detention cell north of the current pond will also be constructed to control flooding during heavy rain periods, and collect silt prior to entry into Clarks Pond. A wetlands area in between the detention cell and the pond will be constructed to add one additional area for silt detention. To finish the area, various trees that were removed will be replaced, park toys will be installed, and areas for picnic and relaxing will be furnished. The following pictures were taken prior to the beginning of construction on the project. The pictures show the current pond, and the area's where wetlands and the detention cell are to be placed. Similar to the Sutton Aquatic Facility The City of Sutton will post new webpages showing the work through the start of the project to the end. Please check back often to see the progress of the project. Click to Enlarge! The Clarks Pond Restoration Project will be a multiple step process. A new detention cell to remove silt and slow water run off will need to be constructed. A damn structure under Ash St, and a wetlands area will also proceed the removal of dirt and deposited silt in the current pond area. Because of timing and seasons, the final project will not be completed until fall of 2002, but VanKirks, Olsson Associates and the City of Sutton are optimistic that a large majority of the work will be completed by the early summer months of 2002. The following photos were taken after the remaining water had been drained from Clarks Pond, allowing VanKirks to remove the top layer of the dirt from the pond. Click to Enlarge! The Restoration project is moving along rather quickly, mother nature has not been a problem for VanKirk Brothers Construction. The detention cell north of the pond and the new dam structure are almost complete. The detention cell covers approximately 6 acres and will be the primary area where sediment will be removed from the storm water. The dam structure also allowed for an improvement to West Ash Street, which has been elevated over 8 feet. There are 3 different drainage tubes to control the amount of water leaving the detention cell and entering Clarks Pond. Click to Enlarge! With the detention cell and dam structure almost completed VanKirk Brothers Contracting have moved their focus back to the actual Clarks Pond Area. Excavation of the current pond to depths up to 12 foot will provide a suitable living environment for different aquatic species. The Nebraska Department of Game and Parks has agreed to stock Clarks Pond and to help maintain the fish habitat once the project is completed. After excavation has been completed the contractors will install Vinyl sheet piling on the East side of the pond to prevent erosion of the pond after the project is finished. Click To Enlarge! VanKirk Brothers continue to work on the the actual pond site at Clarks Pond. The dentention cell and flow structures have been completed. Leaving the pond, wetlands and clean up to finish. The weather has cooperated throughout the project continues to move along at an expadited rate. Olsson Associaties have been busy staking the project, and observing the construction progress. (Click to Enlarge!) VanKirk Brothers continue to work on the the actual pond site at Clarks Pond. Work on the shoreline stablization of the pond has begun. A vinyl sheet piling is being driven into the ground on the west edge of the pond. This will prevent erosion from the west edge and provide stability for the edge. (Click to Enlarge!)